FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 31, 2009

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Abdurrahman Wahid (also known as Gus Dur), prominent religious reformer and former President of Indonesia, died yesterday at the age of 69. The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) mourns the passing of this champion of religious freedom and determined opponent of radicalism and religious extremism.

"Gus Dur was a renowned religious reformer, a voice of moderation when his country needed it most, and a bridge between Muslims and people of other faiths. His unique voice and perspective will be missed," said Leonard Leo, USCIRF chair. "His life's mission was to increase religious understanding and reduce religious extremism worldwide. Though the world produces few men of his talents, the mission he lived for should be everyone's goal."

USCIRF is an independent, bipartisan U.S. federal government commission. USCIRF Commissioners are appointed by the President and the leadership of both political parties in the Senate and the House of Representatives. USCIRF"s principal responsibilities are to review the facts and circumstances of violations of religious freedom internationally and to make policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State and Congress.

To interview a USCIRF Commissioner, contact Tom Carter, Communications Director at [email protected] This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or (202) 523-3257.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 24. 2009

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is deeply concerned by reports that the National Congress Party (NCP), headed by President Omar al-Bashir, appears to once again be threatening Sudan"s fragile peace by reneging on previous commitments. On December 22, the NCP moved through the National Assembly, a body over which it has total control, the Southern Sudan referendum bill with new language that the Sudan People"s Liberation Movement (SPLM) did not agree to. Days earlier, on December 20, the NCP rammed through the National Assembly a revised National Security Act to which the SPLM had objected because the Act does not include any new measures that hold the security services accountable.

"Many in Sudan perceive that the U.S. Special Envoy, the European Union Special Representative, African Union countries, China, and others have emboldened the National Congress Party. These past weeks have shown all too clearly what actions an emboldened NCP will take,” said Leonard Leo, USCIRF chair. "USCIRF calls on Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to stand with the peace process and play a leading role to ensure the full implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement.” The Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA)is the fragile 2005 agreement that ended 20 years of a violent civil war between Northern and Southern Sudan.

"Once again the NCP has violated agreements it made with the SPLM, its supposed partner in the peace process,” said Mr. Leo. "These violations are threatening to derail the CPA which provides the only existing roadmap to peace in Sudan and it is now hanging by a thread.”

These most recent violations of the CPA took place mere weeks after government police and security personnel on December 7 arrested and abused opposition members of Sudan"s National Assembly during their attempt to peacefully present a letter urging the enactment of human rights reforms and other key legislation necessary to implement the CPA. A USCIRF delegation was in Khartoum at that time where they met with senior SPLM leaders and other members of parliament. The delegation was told about people being detained and beaten and saw the bruises of an SPLM official who had been struck with batons and kicked repeatedly.

"The NCP"s latest actions imperil the CPA. An emboldened NCP needs to hear directly from the Secretary that its violations of human rights and repudiations of agreements it made long ago to implement the CPA will not stand,” said Mr. Leo.

USCIRF is an independent, bipartisan U.S. federal government commission. USCIRF Commissioners are appointed by the President and the leadership of both political parties in the Senate and the House of Representatives. USCIRF"s principal responsibilities are to review the facts and circumstances of violations of religious freedom internationally and to make policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State and Congress.

To interview a USCIRF Commissioner, contact Tom Carter, Communications Director at [email protected] or (202) 523-3257.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 24, 2009

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom today condemned the violence targeting Shia Muslims in Iraq at the start of the religious festival Ashura. In five attacks today, at least 19 people were killed and more than 100 injured.

"The government of Iraq must do more to protect its religious communities, including its majority Muslim Shia community,” said Leonard Leo, USCIRF chair. "This festival was discouraged by Saddam Hussein, but it has become even more dangerous for the pilgrims under the new Iraqi government.”

Shia Muslims are a majority in Iraq, but a minority in the world wide Muslim community, where Sunnis are the majority. The violence this week is being blamed on al-Qeada in Iraq, a Sunni Muslim extremist organization. Bombs were detonated in Karbala, Sadr City, Hillah, and Babel.

More than a dozen bombs have exploded across Iraq in the last 24 hours, mostly targeting Shia Muslims as they begin their Ashura celebrations. Also, there have been several attacks targeting Iraq's Christian minority, as they begin their Christmas festivities and worship. On December 23, USCIRF issued a press release condemning the terrorist attacks on Christians in Iraq.

The Shia festival of Ashura commemorates the death of Imam Hussein in 680 AD. More than 1.5 million pilgrims are expected to make the trip to Karbala, one of Shia Islam"s most holy shrines. The festivals have been plagued by similar bombings and attacks on Shia Muslims in recent years.

USCIRF is an independent, bipartisan U.S. federal government commission. USCIRF Commissioners are appointed by the President and the leadership of both political parties in the Senate and the House of Representatives. USCIRF"s principal responsibilities are to review the facts and circumstances of violations of religious freedom internationally and to make policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State and Congress.

To interview a USCIRF Commissioner, contact Tom Carter, Communications Director at [email protected] (202) 523-3257.